The lion-headed miniature rabbit is an amazing creature. It is difficult to remain indifferent when looking at a miniature figurine of an animal. Memories of favorite children's toys and fairy tale characters come to mind. In addition to its charming appearance, the pet has a friendly character and ebullient energy. The maned animal will become a friend for all family members.
Origin story
The history of the birth of the lion-headed rabbit breed is somewhat confusing.According to one version, the first maned animals appeared randomly, as a result of a genetic mutation.
Other experts claim that unusual animals appeared at the end of the 20th century thanks to Belgian breeders. As a result crossbreeding Belgian dwarf rabbits and representatives of the Swiss fox breed, unusual maned offspring were born.
Due to the peculiarities of their appearance, the animals received a witty name - lion's head.
Charming creatures instantly became popular in European countries. The breed received real recognition in 2002. Thanks to British specialists, the breed gained official status. In Russia, lion-headed rabbits were recognized by the Union of Breeders only in 2010.
Description of the lion-headed breed
The animal has a non-standard appearance. His short, muscular body is harmoniously combined with straight, strong legs. The hindquarters are symmetrical to well-developed shoulders. The round head, crowned with short erect ears, smoothly transitions into a compact body. The illusion of no neck gives the pet the appearance of a funny toy. The color of the bright, wide-set eyes matches the color of the animal.
The dwarf rabbit weighs only 1.5-1.7 kg. Its small size and charming face enhance the animal’s resemblance to a stuffed hare. The neck and head of the animal are buried in a luxurious mane. Falling onto the handsome man’s chest, the vegetation forms a decorative triangle. A rabbit's soft, fluffy coat can be dyed in different colors. Chinchilla, lilac, and blue colors are popular. Orange, opal or tortoiseshell colors look impressive.
There are 2 types of animal mane:
- Single. In this case, the pet’s main decoration looks modest.The vegetation is sparse, rare strands disappear over time.
- Double. A thick, dense mane forms a border with the main coat of the animal.
The type of pet's mane depends on the rabbit's inheritance of a certain number of genes responsible for the lion effect. It is possible to determine whether a long-eared pet belongs to one of the groups at an early age of the animal. Owners of a single type of mane grow like ordinary rabbits, while shaggy pets are covered with long hair unevenly. First of all, the strands grow on the head and in the back of the rabbit. With love and care, the long-eared pet lives up to 10 years. The rabbit readily responds to affection and literally languishes in an atmosphere of loneliness and stress.
Main pros and cons
Despite the abyss of charm, the lion-headed rabbit has not only a lot of advantages, but also some disadvantages. Among the advantages:
- The pet's docile, affectionate disposition turns communication with the animal into pure pleasure.
- The rabbit does not require complex care.
- Thanks to its modest size, the pet does not take up much space and feels great in any apartment.
- The animal rarely sheds.
- The rabbit is endowed with a charming appearance, and the variety of colors allows you to choose a pet to your liking.
Negative qualities include:
- Picky eating.
- Wariness, timidity.
- Difficult adaptation to new conditions of detention.
Rules for keeping and caring for animals
Despite the fact that the animal needs daily walks, most of the day the rabbit is in its own house. Therefore, you need to prepare a spacious cage for your long-eared pet. For a lion-headed rabbit, apartments with an area of 70*80*100 cm are suitable.
The dwelling is equipped with a convenient feeding trough, drinking bowl and a device for grinding teeth.A hypoallergenic bedding is placed on the floor. The cage is placed in full view of the owners, in a place protected from drafts.
The shaggy pet is combed once a week. The procedure is carried out for 20-25 minutes. Manipulations will help avoid the appearance of tangles in the animal’s fur. Otherwise, the rabbit plucks the excess fur on its own. This leads to the accumulation of hairs in the pet’s esophagus, and as a result, the death of the animal. Every month your pet's nails are trimmed. The cage is cleaned regularly and the bedding is changed.
Diet
A rabbit's daily diet consists of 80% grass (plantain, burdock, dandelion, alfalfa or clover) and 20% grains (barley, oats or wheat). In winter, instead of lush grass, the pet is treated to hay. Fruits and vegetables are added to the animal's diet daily. The rabbit is treated to pieces of pumpkin, carrot, turnip, apple or pear. To prevent diseases and dysbacteriosis, the animal is given vitamin supplements, chalk and bone meal.
Breeding lion headed rabbits
After reaching 7 months of age, the reproductive function of the female is fully formed. A healthy individual brings up to 6 rabbits. To obtain full-fledged offspring, representatives of the same breed of animals are crossed.
In preparation for reproduction, the female scatters her own down in the corners of the cage. After mating, the pregnant rabbit is transferred to enhanced nutrition. The animal needs a lot of drinking water, so the drinking bowl must be constantly filled. Otherwise, the female will eat the newborn rabbits.
After birth, the offspring remains with the mother. The newly-minted family cannot be moved anywhere. For a month, rabbits have enough nutrition in the form of mother's milk.Then a small amount of feed is gradually introduced into the animals’ diet.
Possible diseases and prevention from them
Rabbits often suffer as a result of stress. The cause may be loud noises, aggressive behavior of a domestic cat, or incorrect handling of the owners. A frightened pet suffers from diarrhea. Within 24 hours the rabbit's health returns to normal.
Ailments such as stomatitis, scabies, pneumonia or constipation can have serious consequences. Inflammatory processes in the eye area and urinary dermatitis result in troubles.
Gastrointestinal stasis is of particular danger. The disease is expressed in a violation of the animal's intestinal motility. In this case, the pet needs emergency assistance from a veterinarian. To prevent diseases, the handsome eared cat is vaccinated annually.
How to choose and how much does it cost?
Choosing a lion-headed rabbit is a responsible matter. A frivolous approach often leads to the purchase of a non-viable animal. A healthy pet has a thick, long, shiny mane. The vegetation beautifully frames the rabbit's head without covering the eyes and nose. The ears are positioned vertically, the eyes and nose are clean. The rabbit's well-being is indicated by the pet's active behavior and curiosity.
Serious disadvantages of the animal include:
- thinness;
- ears are too long (more than 9 cm);
- narrow body;
- low stand;
- dull fur.
A small rabbit is purchased as a pet. The cost of an animal ranges from 2000 to 3000 rubles. To participate in professional exhibitions, it is better to buy an adult rabbit. An elite pet will cost the owners 7,000-10,000 rubles.
